Joshua Place

Joshua Place is a short cul-de-sac running off Penrod Drive in Bell Block. It was named after the son of developers Mike and Jane Osborne in 2006 but was very nearly called Romulus Street instead. That name would have honoured a man who farmed in that part of Bell Block in the 1800s, one of the earliest Pākehā settlers in the area.

Romulus Street arrived in New Plymouth from Cornwall as a toddler with his parents, Mary and Joseph, and six siblings in 1841. The only member of the family who could read and write, he went on to become a successful farmer, eventually purchasing and clearing 600 acres of land in Bell Block.

Street’s home on Devon Road was burnt down during the Taranaki Wars, destroyed by local Māori on 26 October 1860 in retribution for whare incinerated by colonial troops. The land continued to be used as pasture until early 2005, when Street family descendants, who still owned it, decided to subdivide. The foundations of the old homestead were excavated during an archaeological dig by the Historic Places Trust that year as part of the development of Penrod Estate. Archaeologist Hans Dieter-Bader and his team recovered various artefacts, including bottles, crockery and farm implements, now held by Puke Ariki. These finds prompted descendants to suggest the name Romulus Street to the council for one of the new roads. Their idea was initially adopted but the developer, who had named his company CEJ Properties using his children’s initials (Coby, Emma and Joshua), had already nominated their names for the new streets.

Romulus Street was eventually revoked in 2006 and changed to Joshua Place, but the developers did agree to create a small reserve and name it after Romulus. This reserve is located west of Coby Sydney Drive. The original plan had been to name it Emma Jane Reserve, for the Osborne’s daughter, but a compromise was reached.

After the death of his first wife, Sarah, Romulus Street married Jane Barriball in 1868 and the couple had ten children. He died on 1 May 1904 and is buried in St Luke’s cemetery in Bell Block.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.